The work jumps off the canvas in an explosion of abstract colors-- and for the Ames Iowa native and long-time Los Angeles resident, she comes by this approach naturally. As a child, she trained as a dancer with members of the Joffrey Ballet and then earning a scholarship, went on to train with The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. Yet, throughout her dance training, she was developing a parallel passion for art.

After graduating from the University of Minnesota, she migrated to Los Angeles and it was here that she was drawn to create visual art herself. Self-taught, she spent a decade honing her ability and developing her aesthetic.

Russo doesn’t view her process as a means to an end. Instead, the physical art of painting is an essential element of the work. Often painting with her hands, and usually with acrylic paint, Russo paints on glass as well as canvas. She is also experimenting with mixed media work.

Whatever tools she uses, Russo likens her approach to action painters who spontaneously dribble, splash and smear paint onto the canvas versus trying to re-create particular imagery already formed in her mind.

This form of painting is often called “gestural abstraction,” which directly correlates with Russo’s past-- as mastering gesture is an essential element of the motions dancers must master. Yet, now it’s Russo’s colors that move.

Artist Statement

Having lived my entire life as an artist, it is my background as a dancer that has proven to be the most essential element in my work as a painter. To this end, I typically work on 3 or 4 large pieces simultaneously, while moving from piece to piece— and since painting with my hands can be part of my process, I feel very connected to each painting.

Using my intuitive nature to transfer emotion into my art, there are times that I will write with pencil on a canvas something I had been working on outside of my studio. A poem I’ve written or a section from a writing project—and then I will paint over that. I use this as an experiment to try to “paint the words”—as for me, even more feeling can come from painting my thoughts and feelings—allowing me to take that creative thought to the next higher plane. What is that quote from Hopper? “If you could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint.” As someone who also enjoys writing, I find there is nothing like expressing oneself with paint—it’s the truest extension of me—and honestly, I find it cathartic.

My art is truly the process of mind, body and soul coming together— in one, large, abstract canvas—creating work that honors process as much as the end result.